After 84 years of playing football at their old Belle Vue ground, the Club moved to the Keepmoat stadium, which was opened on January 1st 2007. The Keepmoat stadium cost £21m to build and is also home to Doncaster Lakers Rugby League team as well as ladies football team Doncaster Belles.

To be honest the Keepmoat Stadium, in common with a number of new stadiums, looks far more interesting from the outside that it does on the inside. The stadium is situated next to a lake (which I believe makes Doncaster the only league ground to do so) and looks smart with four interesting looking floodlights, protruding at an angle from the stadium roof. However, on the inside the stadium is rather non-descript. Yes it looks tidy, the stadium is completely enclosed and all the covered stands are of the same height. But it lacks character and it is rather similar to other new stadiums that have been built, except that it is on a smaller scale.

On one side is the West Stand, which is the Main Stand, containing the teams' dressing rooms and having the players tunnel and team dugouts at its front. The primary television gantry is also housed on this side, along with press facilities. Opposite is the Doncaster Success Stand which contains a row of 16 executive boxes, outside which patrons can sit. These run across the back of the stand. Both ends are identical, with the North End of the ground being allocated to away fans.

Unusually the stadium has large access points in three corners of the ground, which can be used if need be, by emergency services. There are two small electric scoreboards situated in the North East & South West corners of the stadium. The stadium is completed with a set of four floodlights which are mounted on the roof in each corner.

Away fans are located in the Case Construction North Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 3,344 fans can be accommodated. If demand requires it then a portion of the East Stand can also be allocated. The view of the playing action, leg room, and facilities are all good, although fans are set well back from the pitch as there is a substantial tarmac looking track which surrounds it.

The concourses are a good size and there are a number of televisions on view to keep supporters entertained. Food included a selection of pies (including the Chicken Balti pie) and pasties at £3 each, plus burgers and hot dogs.

I found the stadium to be more atmospheric than the Belle Vue ground which was largely open to the elements. This is a bit unusual as most clubs that move to new grounds usually complain that the atmosphere suffers in the new arena, however at the Keepmoat this is not the case. The stewarding was relaxed on my visit and no problems were experienced. The pitch also looked in top condition, although you could still see the lines of a previous rugby league game. The club have their own troupe of cheerleaders called the Vikettes, who provide entertainment before the game and half time. Mark Chatterton a visiting Southend United supporter adds; 'It poured down with rain at our last match and it was noticeable around the stadium that those people sitting in the front rows of the stands, got particularly wet'.

Please note that cash is not accepted at the turnstiles, they are ticket only. Tickets can be purchased from the South Stand ticket office.

As the stadium is on the outskirts of town, then there is not much choice in the way of pubs. There is though the Lakeside, a Beefeater outlet near Stadium Way (you should catch sight of it, if you drive towards the stadium from Junction 3 of the M18). Chris Parkes a visiting Nottingham Forest supporter informs me; 'I had no problems with getting a drink in the Lakeside Beefeater, in fact there were more Forest fans in there than home fans before the game. We were also allowed in after the game for a pint or two while the traffic cleared.' The pub also has a separate restaurant section. Whilst David Rose adds; 'There is a bar in the bowling alley next to the Vue Cinema, which is situated on the other side of the lake'.

Dave a Norwich City fan tells me; 'There is a bar at the stadium itself, which we were allowed to go into. It does get very busy in the hour up to kick off but if you get in early, as we did, you should be okay. The bar has plenty of seating, as well as an organised queuing system to avoid the normal bustle at the bar. There was no food available though.' Alcohol is also available inside the stadium, including Carlsberg at £3 a bottle.

Ian Dutton a visiting Wigan Athletic fan adds; 'If going by train then in the town centre there is an excellent pub called the Cask Corner. It is a fantastic pub which is about a ten 10 minute walk from railway station. It serves a number of real ales and ciders. It doesn't offer food but you are allowed to bring in your own. The pub was so good that I nearly missed the kick off!' This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide is located on Cleveland Street.

From the A1(M) join the M18 Eastbound at Junction 35 (signposted Hull) or from the M1, join the M18 Eastbound at Junction 32.

Once on the M18, leave at Junction 3 and take the A6182 towards Doncaster (the stadium is well signposted from Junction 3 and is about one and a half miles away). You will pass a retail park on your left and then at the next island (which has the Lakeside Pub visible behind it) turn left onto White Rose Way. The Lakeside Shopping Centre is now on your right (the stadium is located directly behind the shopping centre). At the next island turn right onto the industrial estate and after passing the Tesco distribution centre on your right, turn right at the bottom of the road and the stadium is further down on your left.

Car Parking

There are just 1,000 car parking spaces at the stadium, which will mean that for the bigger games, parking will be at a premium. There are 60 parking spaces reserved for disabled fans, which must be booked prior to matchday. The stadium management are also giving preference for parking to those cars carrying more than one passenger, but apparently this won't be enforced. The cost of parking at the stadium is £5. Alan Wilson adds; 'Having parked at the stadium it took me nearly an hour to get out of the car park and back onto the main road after the game had ended'. Alternatively, a number of firms on the nearby industrial park, offer matchday parking at around £3-£4 per vehicle. If you happen to arrive a couple of hours before kick off then there is also some free street parking to be had in this area.

Away coaches are parked in Car Park number on the approach to the stadium. This is at a cost of £20. Coaches need to follow the stadium signs, then the entrance to the car park is directly ahead when you see the first group of car park stewards.

Doncaster Station is just under two miles away so you are probably best taking a taxi to the ground. If you do have time on your hands and you fancy the long walk (around 25-30 minutes) then as you come out of the station turn right and then keep straight on this road (the A 6182 Trafford Way) and you will eventually reach the stadium complex on your left.
Colin Barrett informs me; 'The bus service has been improved for matchdays. From around two hours before kick off there is a dedicated shuttle service from the Doncaster Interchange bus station, which is adjacent the train station and under the Frenchgate Shopping Centre. This is Route 75X and runs every 10 minutes direct to the Stadium. It leaves Stand C6 and the journey takes less than 10 minutes depending on traffic. The bus stops in a lay-by at the Ground close to the Ticket Office and after the match leaves for Doncaster Interchange from the same place. Cost is presently £1.10 each way'.

Remember if travelling by train then you can save on the cost of fares by booking in advance.

Visit the the trainline website to see how much you can normally save.

Like a number of Clubs, Doncaster operate a match category policy (A & B) whereby the ticket prices cost more for the most popular games. Category A prices are shown below, with Category B prices in brackets:

If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going.

Doncaster Rovers v Peterborough United
League One
Saturday 14th March 2015
Mark Wilson (Peterborough United fan)

Why were you looking forward to going to the Keepmoat Stadium?

The Keepmoat was to be ground number 86 in my quest to visit the ‘92’. In fact I had not been to Doncaster’s previous ground at Belle Vue either. Doncaster Rovers FC had generously priced the tickets at £5 per adult to try to get a full house as a gesture to James Coppinger who was hopeful of playing his 450th League game. Unfortunately he was injured so was unable to play in front of a near full house.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Straight up the A1 to the junction with the M18 and then Junction 3 off the motorway. The ground is almost impossible to miss. Nice clear directions from the M18 and the Keepmoat is easily visible when you approach it. A number of small businesses open up their car parks for fans and I parked at Porcelanosa just off White Rose Way for £3. If you arrive a little earlier there a number of roads with street parking but these are taken quickly, as was the case for this particular game.

What you did before the game pub/chippy....home fans friendly?

There is a retail park next to the ground with a small shopping village and plenty of options for eating too. The bulk standard KFC, Pizza Hut and Greggs will ensure there is a choice for most fans and if you have the time there a number of high street outlets in the shopping village only too keen to part you from your hard earned cash.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

I must admit that the Keepmoat is an impressive looking ground from the outside. Once inside it is not too dissimilar to other grounds built around the same time. A decent concourse with live football being shown on TV and a fair selection of drinks/snacks are available from the kiosks.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Both teams were coming into the game looking to enhance their chances of getting into the end of season play-offs. Posh had won three on the bounce and with a renewed confidence took the game to Doncaster. Luke James scored his first (hopefully of many) League goal for the visitors early in the first half to send the packed away end crazy and despite a lot of subsequent home pressure, the heroics of Ben Alnwick in the Posh goal and a late Conor Washington strike ensured the visitors claimed all three points.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Despite hearing to the contrary, the exit from the ground was very smooth. Straight out of the Porcelanosa car park, onto the White Rose Way (tip – you do not need to get into the right hand lane on the A6182 as both lanes will take you out to the M18) and home.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A fantastic atmosphere thanks to Doncaster’s generosity and it was a real shame for James Coppinger that he couldn’t play. That aside a Posh victory is always worth celebrating. I found Doncaster Rovers to be a very friendly club with a welcoming atmosphere with sensible stewarding too. Despite a very small minority of Posh fans pushing their luck, the stewards kept them in order with the minimum of fuss. The club mascots proved to be popular with the younger Posh fans and were only too keen to be in their ‘selfies’.

I have been a couple of times before, but as Doncaster were only charging £5 for adults and a £1 for kids for a James Coppinger testimonial, it seemed a good deal. Plus we had sold around 2,300 tickets so a good atmosphere was expected.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I know Doncaster fairly well (wife and in laws from there), but we took the advice given on this website to arrive early and parked the car about half a mile from the ground in a side street in an industrial estate.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Prior to the game we went to Doncaster Market which is an old traditional market stocking all manner of meats and fish, although parking was a bit of a problem taking 20 minutes to wait for a space. If you have never been its all good wholesome food and reasonably priced. So having got our stock of joints of meat, fish and pies for the freezer we went to go to a Wetherspoons pub in the town near the market to find it was under renovation (Red Lion) so had to walk a further 5 minutes towards the ground to another Wetherspoons called the Old Angel. We arrived there at about 12 o'clock but found the place full of fans and only two bar staff. Added to that the gas pump had broken so no draught soft drinks. Having got served eventually we ordered double drinks and something a bit light to eat (Ham egg and chips) two meals for £7-60 washed down with a couple of real ales which with CAMRA vouchers worked out at £1-45 a pint, good deal.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

Although in an Industrial estate it is not in bad surroundings, which are still being developed. There was a Harvester Pub about 5 minutes south of the ground which was popular for both home and away fans. The door security were quite at ease.We went in there for a pre match pint, but what a difference in prices more than double than Wetherspoons. You would think I was Yorkshireman!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Having arrived at the ground because of the cheap entrance fee the whole place was buzzing, home and away ends. We had a pre match pie (ham egg and chips doesn't last long when washed down with beer) which for a change wasn't just a gravy pie even though it was a Pukka pie. The Stewards were quite anonymous which is what you want as a fan. Alcohol was available but tinned bitter at twice the price of a supermarket is never going to encourage me to buy in the ground.
Although the ground was pretty full, the home support were quite muted after we took the lead.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The tip on parking away from the ground was tip top as we got away and back into the town to pick up the wife and were back in Peterborough by 7pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A very nice day out, good beer, good food, great atmosphere and more importantly a 2-0 win

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

The Keepmoat Stadium is a ground I've never done before. Plus it is meant to be one of the better grounds in the league, so I decided to make the trip up from Milton Keynes.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Myself and four friends decided to get the train up to Doncaster, having managed to find train tickets for around the same price as the official club coach going via Birmingham. We left Milton Keynes at around 8:15am, and after a Wetherspoons stop in Birmingham we got the train up to Doncaster. The ground wasn't difficult to find once we got given directions from a very nice, albeit chatty man outside the train station. Just basically following the same road until an industrial estate turning, and then straight down that to the ground. Overall the journey was around 3 or 4 hours on the train, with about a 20 minute walk to the ground, from the station.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

After getting off the train in Doncaster, we decided to stop off at a pub called the 'Tutt and Shive' after a group of Bristol City fans on their way up to Barnsley recommended it. This was fairly busy though, but luckily right next door was a quiet little pub that only had around 10 people in it, all Doncaster fans about to go up to the match. The locals were probably some of the friendliest I have ever met, willing to stop and chat about the game and the season so far. After this stop we walked up to the ground and went into the bar at the ground, where the recurring theme of chatty locals continued while watching the early kick off in the Championship

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

At first glance from the outside the ground looked stunning and very modern. However, when we made our way into the stadium my first thought was it looked a little dull. If you've been to the New York Stadium you've basically been here, albeit there are slight differences in the steepness and the roofing layout.

The game itself was an exciting 0-0 draw, end to end stuff with MK looking the more likely winners, but we couldn't break down the very well organised Donny defence. The home fans were certainly the happier after the game and you could tell that as soon as the whistle went. The whole atmosphere was a bit dull from the home fans as only a pocketful were trying to start it up, and we comfortably out sung them for 90 minutes.

The stewards were fairly friendly, as there were only around 350 MK Dons fans they weren't too busy, and always had time for a chat with the away supporters. The concourse behind the away end is very spacious with enough room to manoeuvre around the people gathered by the TV showing Soccer Saturday, although the fact we only had one block of fans may have helped with this. There was a very nice, fairly affordable bar which served everything you could want, and the toilets were spacious too.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was alright, there were the odd taunts of 'Franchise' which we get everywhere, but you could tell the home fans only had the courage because they had gotten a point from the game. After a 0-0 draw though the walk back to the station seemed to take forever.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

My friend and I had been meaning to visit the Keepmoat Stadium for quite a while, as we both live in Sheffield and have done for several years, however only now have we finally ticked off this one from the 92. It's a ground we should have done ages ago, but we were both put off by the fact that on first impressions the stadium seems rather dull and nondescript. A poor excuse for not visiting, but we finally bit the bullet and made the short journey to Donny.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey from Sheffield to Doncaster is short and simple and the ground is well signposted once you get into Doncaster, so you shouldn't have any issues finding it if you're driving. We parked at the nearby retail park which is free (well, we didn't get a ticket), from there it's a short 5 minute walk to the ground.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We stopped briefly to get some lunch from one of the several food outlets on offer at the retail park which was nice and convenient, and from there we ventured on to the ground.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

As mentioned in this guide the stadium is somewhat more interesting in appearance from the outside, with the floodlights being the main feature. The stadium also has fairly scenic location with it being part of the Lakeside area of Doncaster, so it's a bit more pleasant than your average ground location and handy if you fancy a spot of fishing after the match! Inside, the ground is neat and tidy, if somewhat dull in design. I would say it has the appearance of a less interesting equivalent of Rotherham's New York Stadium.

We picked this particular match because of the importance of the result to both teams at this late stage of the season. Reading were fighting to consolidate their position in the play offs, whilst Doncaster were hovering dangerously above the drop zone. The game itself was a poor affair and it seemed like it could easily run out a dull 0-0, with neither side really looking like they had much about them.

Somewhat against the run of play Doncaster found themselves 1-0 to the good, when a ball played across the face of goal was dispatched past Alex McCarthy by James Coppinger in the 25th minute. From there Doncaster seemed more likely of the two clubs to get on the score sheet again and came close ten minutes later when Billy Sharp's header was well saved by McCarthy, bringing the half to a close with Rovers 1-0 up.

The second half was a different story and it seemed like Nigel Adkins had given his players one big kick up the backside during the interval. Reading came out in the second half with intent and started looking like a bit more like a team that had recently been in the Premier League. It was no surprise when they bagged an equaliser after 63 minutes, when Adam Le Fondre tucked away a spot-kick after being hauled down in the box, and from there there appeared to be only one winner. The suckerpunch for Doncaster came in the 86th minute as Pavel Pogrebnyak nodded in a cross at far post, and to rub salt in the wound Pogrebnyak sealed his brace in the 90th minute after Alex Pearce walked through the Doncaster defence to present the big Russian with a simple finish. Reading ran out worthy 3-1 winners.

The atmosphere during the game was decent with the home fans starting off quite loudly, especially once they took the lead. The Reading fans were in party mode and had chosen this fixture to be their 'inflatables day', however they had little to make noise about until the second half. Naturally, the Doncaster fans were subdued during the second half and many had left for the exits before the seemingly inevitable Reading winner, leaving Rovers one point above relegation.

I didn't really notice any overzealous stewarding at all, and it appeared that fans at both ends of the ground were allowed to stand throughout the match without any trouble. The concourse and facilities were what you would normally expect and offer the standard fayre, not bad but not brilliant.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away from the stadium was simple enough, however we did find it took a good 15 minutes to get out of the retail park due to the traffic.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was nowhere near as bad as expected. We had a good day out and a good laugh, despite the action on the pitch being fairly poor. The Keepmoat Stadium might not have a unique design or bags of character but it's by no means the worst ground you'll ever go to.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

As I had previously been told that it was a faitry new stadium with some impressive looking floodlights and never have visited Doncaster before.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey from Suffolk was incredibly straight forward and didn't take as long as expected. With the stadium being Located on an industrial estate, it was a matter of 5 minutes from the M18 and we managed to park for £4 a short walk away.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We walked to a Beefeater pub/restaurant minutes walk from the ground who were happy to serve us. Reasonably priced drinks, in a packed bar and the few home supporters that were there were friendly. Also alongside there is a McDonalds & KFC.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The stadium looks fairly impressive from the outside and yes the floodlights did look stunning, although on the whole, the Keepmoat is fairly similar to other modern stadiums. The away end is big, and housed 1,266 of us Town fans, and the enclosed stadium created a fantastic away atmosphere.

Stewards were exceptionally friendly, allowing us to sit where we want and also stand throughout the game. The way atmosphere was brilliant although you couldn't say the same regarding the home support. Pints were £3 which is a fair price and the toilet were OK, better than some!

It was an open first half which we dominated and went 2-0 up after a rocket from Stevenson although we sloppily allowed them back into the game, but we came through with a deserved 3-2 win.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

It was an easy walk back to the car, although it was fairly busy getting out of Doncaster, took us around 20minutes longer, probably due to the fact of some road works too.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A thoroughly enjoyable away day to finish the season on 3points. A decent stadium, would come again for the £22 paid.

i was looking forward to attending the match as I had never visited the Keepmoat before. Blackpool were on a good run and I thought it was a game we could win.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Although located in the middle of a large industrial estate, there were no problems travelling to the stadium. We drove and we found there were lots of car parks close to the stadium ranging from £3-£5 pounds.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

It was a night game so we headed to get some food, luckily there is a McDonalds only 2 minutes from the ground so we headed there. This was full with Doncaster supporters who were very friendly apart from a few teenager "chavs" who were throwing a few gestures around.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

First impressions were very different from when inside the stadium. Its like every other "new modern" stadium but on a very smaller scale, with 4 floodlights erecting from each corner. When inside the stadium the away section is situated behind one of the goals. With the Blackpool fans on form it made for a very good atmosphere from the away fans however, very little noise from the home support.

The game was fantastic with Blackpool winning 3-1. A really good atmosphere can be generated from the away section. The stewards were laid back letting the Blackpool fans sit where they wanted and allowed fans to stand which helped the atmosphere a lot. The price of food was quite expensive, but the concourse was very spacious which was good.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away from the stadium is very easy although we did follow the coaches that had a police escort! Once through the town centre it was very quick with hardly any traffic at all

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Had a fantastic day/evening in Doncaster, probably due to the pool winning!, will be going again and would give an overall rating of 8/10.

I’ve not been to Doncaster before, and the reviews on this website made it sound as if it would be a good trip. The tickets were at reduced prices (just a tenner for adults) and Notts have developed a good record in the FA cup over the last few years, with victories at Sunderland and Wigan as well as the draw with Manchester City in the 4th round in 2011.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled up by car with a friend, and finding the ground was easy enough, as the floodlights are very distinctive, and the area around the ground isn’t very built up. We found a car park being operated out of an industrial estate courtyard which only cost £3. There was also some on-street parking, but that had all been taken by the time we arrived at 2.15pm. From there it was an easy 5 minute stroll to the away end, which has a separate ticket office marked ‘Soccer Centre’.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We had to go and buy our tickets, and with a bumper crowd expected in the away end, we didn’t want to run the risk of having to sit in the home area. The stewards outside the turnstiles were helpful and more than willing to have a joke with the away fans, as were the home fans we encountered, who mostly seemed to be families. I heard after the game that a Beefeater pub near the ground had been ‘taken over’ by Notts fans, so there certainly are places to drink in the vicinity.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

As I said, the Keepmoat has some distinctive floodlights, but aside from that, it’s just another new bowl-style ground, with little character to speak of. It didn’t help that the end opposite the away fans was closed, presumably to help the smallish home crowd create more of an atmosphere. Because the stadium is fully enclosed, it kept the wind off, which meant it wasn’t too cold, and unless you happen to be in the first few rows of seats, you should be safe from any rain too.

Notts put up a performance at odds with the form book, looking dominant in all areas despite a brand new central defensive partnership and the fact our influential defensive midfielder Gavin Mahon was out injured. Doncaster didn’t look up for the fight, and perhaps losing the in-form Billy Sharp, who was about to transfer out of South Yorkshire and didn’t want to be cup-tied, didn't help. The Doncaster singers were directly to our left in the North West corner, and they had a drum that kept going until Notts scored a second goal from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

At about 85 minutes, most of the Doncaster support seemed to give up and go home. I’ve never seen a ground empty quicker of home fans than the Keepmoat, and by the time the final whistle blew the 2m917 Notts fans must have outnumbered the remaining Doncaster faithful.

At half time I went in search of a Chicken Balti pie, which, along with most of the other food, was priced at £3. However they seemed to have some sort of food shortage, and by the time I got to the front of the queue, I had to settle for a meat and potato pie, which was admittedly delicious. There are also separate bars just selling lager (Carlsberg) at £3 a bottle. The toilets were clean and as you would expect from a new ground.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

As most of the Donny fans had already cleared off well before the end, it was easy enough to get away. The supporter’s coaches were picking up right outside the away end, though I’m not sure how quickly they got away, as the roads around the stadium were clogged up for quite some time. We stopped at one of the abundant burger vans on the way back to the car, but it still took quite a while to get away from the area around the Stadium, with traffic stretching all the way to the A1(M).

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

All in all, I enjoyed the trip to Doncaster, and it’s one that I’d happily make again, something that looks quite likely as Donny look like going down to League One this season. The only blemish on the day were the traffic problems, but it only cost us half an hour or so, and we were back in Nottingham by half 6.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was looking forward going to the ground as Boro had the 2nd best away record in the Championship and our away following had been excellent so far. With Doncaster only being two hours travelling time away, we were likely to fill the allocation even though it was on a Tuesday night. Also the week before we'd been well beaten by a better side- in Southampton- and the response at Doncaster was going to test our promotion credentials, so me, my father and a couple of his mates we're hoping to bring three points back to Teesside.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We parked at a Premier Inn where my dads' mate was staying and it was free, so that was a bonus. Also we were told that there was a bus, that takes you directly to the Keepmoat and was only £1.30 for a return.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Well before the game we arrived at the Premier Inn at around 6. We had a few drinks in their bar, where there was some other Boro fans too. We caught the bus outside the hotel and got to the stadium at 7:30pm A home fan told us where the away end and showed us where to go, which was helpful of him.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

My first impression of the stadium was that it looked modern. It also was fully enclosed, which made it stand out more than some other newer stadiums that I've recently visited. The away end was fantastic. We had a great view and also the concourse even had bar stools, which I hadn't seen before at a ground. However the stadium did look a bit on the small side as all the stands were only one tier.

The game was very emotional as Billy Sharp (Doncaster's top scorer and captain) had just tragically lost his son, so there was a minutes applause before the game had kicked off and the 3,000 Boro fans joined in.

The game itself was excellent. Doncaster actually started quite well and had a few good chances early on. But it was like a story come true, the way Billy Sharp scored an outstanding goal in front of the Boro fans on 14 minutes and even we applauded as a sign of respect. But the table doesn't lie and Boro came back strong as Barry Robson ran for 40 yards before smashing home a deserved equalizer and sent the Boro fans into raptures. Then after they sustained our pressure we then had a fast flowing move with super Marvin Emnes finishing it off, 2-1 at half time.

The 2nd half was end to end again, but with Boro now attacking towards the away endm where the Teesside faithful were generating a brilliant atmosphere. The acoustics were great and the stewards were friendly as well.

Then Boro were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes and the man of the match- Barry Robson- blasted the ball into the roof of the net, to put the game beyond Doncaster and it finished 3-1. Credit to the Donny fans, with most of them staying for the final whistle and even Billy Sharp clapped us off. The atmosphere throughout and especially in the second half was amazing and the Donny fans had a drum which created some noise but most came from the Boro fans.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We got the bus with a few other Boro fans with no problem at all and got back to the Premier Inn quickly, so we had one more drink in there and then drove back to Teesside happy as Larry.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall it was an away day to remember as we answered our critics after getting beaten a few days before and the 3-1 score line could've easily been 5 or 6 on another day, but happy with the win and Doncaster should be praised for putting in a brave performance and for passing the ball and not just blasting it up the pitch. Any loyal fans should give the Keepmoat a try!

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was looking forward to visiting the Keepmoat Stadium because it was it was a new ground that I had never visited before. Plus Cardiff City were chasing automatic promotion to the Premier League and I thought we should easily be able to pick up 3 points against a relegation threatened and a largely inconsistent Doncaster side who we easily thrashed 4-0 at home in August.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

As I went by supporters coach all of this was not really applicable but the coaches drop you off behind some Astroturf pitches on a gravel 'car park' and you can just walk to the ground from there.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

I went to a pub before the game, which was just around the corner from the ground by a hotel. The pub was full of fellow Cardiff City supporters. As we then went towards the stadium to look for a burger van or something along those lines we stopped to watch our team coach arrive and had a look around the club shop, where I noticed that some of the Doncaster Rovers shirts were a lot cheaper than our own. I found the home fans to be the friendliest of any away trip I have ever been to, their fans were well behaved and the majority of them were families.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground looks fairly uniform, one tier all the way around and oddly angled floodlights, but i was very impressed by the views of the pitch and the fact that the stewards just told us to 'sit' anywhere we wanted. I can't comment on leg room because its very rare that Cardiff fans sit down at an away game! The concourse under the ground was modern and even had some bar style stools in there for people to sit and have a chat with mates before the game, the ground was impressing me more by the minute.

The game itself was a fantastic game to watch with chances end to end, but even when your going for automatic promotion as I found out going to a team fighting against relegation is never easy and Doncaster dominated the early part of the game missing 2 or 3 good chances in the opening exchanges, but Cardiff on our first attack on 14 minutes took the lead with a goal from Chris Burke.

I went down to the toilets at the break and they were what you would expect from a modern grounds toilets.

As I go back out for the second half Doncaster dominated play even more and finally on 78 minutes got their goal and a well deserved goal at that from James Coppenger, and in the last 10 minutes Cardiff needing a win to go into the automatic promotion places threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Doncaster and the Cardiff fans thought we had blown it, on 90 minutes our Manager brings on Lee Naylor (a player who had struggled throughout the season to cope at this level of football) and Jason Koumas (A player who had his mind elsewhere apparently and hadn't featured for us since November) so we thought that was game over.

On 90+1 minutes we get a free kick about 20 yards out and with that Jason Koumas decides he wants to take the free kick, so with his first touch of a football since November, he perfectly curls the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal (from where the away fans were), and the Cardiff fans celebrated the hardest I've ever seen any set of supporters celebrate in my life, and then whilst we were still celebrating, Koumas with his second touch of the ball since November taps it in to the open Doncaster net after having the ball put on a plate for him by Craig Bellamy, after the 3rd goal went in, there was a mass exodus from the home supporters as they queued to leave the ground on the steps, the final whistle blew and Cardiff City who had been outplayed, out-muscled and had been Dominated for 75% of the game won 3-1.

The atmosphere from the away fans was terrific and there is a drummer in the home singing section to boost the atmosphere but because the home fans singing section is the other side of the ground to the away supporters you can't really hear the home support which is a shame because you could tell that they were singing their hearts out and you could see them with their arms raised in chanting, but at the time we found it quite comical at the same time that we couldn't hear them singing but could see them dancing to the song that they were singing.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

we got let out of the ground and went straight onto our coaches with no problems at all, straght outside the away end are the Astroturf pitches and the coaches are behind there.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The scoreline flattered us a lot with us winning 3-1 when I felt Doncaster deserved to get something from the game and another day could have easily won it. but Doncaster is a fantastic day out for any football fan and i would thoroughly recommend this trip.This trip would also be ideal for parents taking their children on their first away game because of the family feel you get around the place in Doncaster and in and around the Keepmoat stadium.

It is the best away trip I have ever been on and I will recommended it to anyone.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

It's a local away game and both sets of fans tend to look forward to this fixture, (but not as much as the local derbies vs. the Sheffield clubs or Rotherham). There is normally a good atmosphere, as it is more of a friendly rivalry than one filled with hatred. Also we had beaten Rovers 3 times out of 4 since their return to the Championship and had won on our last 2 visits to the Keepmoat without even conceding a goal. So I was looking forward to hopefully carrying on our dominance over them.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Went on the official club coaches and the ground is very easy is to find from the motorway.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

The coach didn't arrive until 7pm so after a quick walk around and look in the club shop we headed straight into the stadium. We had a quick chat with some Rovers fans and as usual, it was all friendly natured, and good humored banter.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

Having been to the Keepmoat before I knew exactly what to expect - a bland boring bowl stadium with no character and is possibly the most boring football ground I've ever seen (bring back Belle Vue!)

The first half was forgettable with both sides not really doing anything. But in the second half, two goals from new signing Danny Haynes gave Barnsley a two nil win and three points over Donny. It was also another victory without conceding a goal at the Keepmoat.

Stewards were helpful and let the Barnsley supporters do pretty much what they wanted (stand, sing etc..). The atmosphere was good with the usual chants back and forth from the home and away supporters, but as soon as Barnsley scored the home support went quiet and by the end of the game there was only a handful of Donny fans left in the ground!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Got stuck in a bit of traffic but only for about 10 minutes then straight on the motorway back to Barnsley and was home within 30 minutes of the game finishing.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Another enjoyable away day at Doncaster, not sure what it would be like in a non-local derby but Rovers is a small, friendly club and is a nice relaxed away day and I would definitely recommend it.